Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026:
Brake Safety Week sidelines 2,300 trucks for brake-related OOS violations
Out of the 15,528 commercial motor vehicle brake inspections conducted in North America for this year’s Brake Safety Week, 84.7% (13,159 vehicles) did not have any brake-related out-of-service (OOS) violations.
That left 2,369 vehicles that were inspected placed out-of-service for brake-related violations — a 15.3% OOS rate.
Brake Safety Week is the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) seven-day inspection and compliance assessment program focused on identifying brake-system violations and educating commercial motor vehicle drivers, motor carriers and other industry stakeholders about the importance of properly functioning brake systems.
At the national level in the U.S., brake violations have become more prominent since the beginning of 2025, as evidenced in the chart below showing CCJ sister company RigDig‘s analysis of federal data.
During Brake Safety Week, CVSA said, most inspections were North American Standard Level I Inspections, accounting for 91% (14,150 inspections) of all inspections conducted during the campaign.
This year, inspectors provided violation data for drums and rotors, the focus for initiative. There were 141 drum and rotor violations, resulting in 64 vehicles being placed OOS.
Inspectors placed 1,176 (49.6%) vehicles out of service that met the 20% defective brake criterion of the North American Inspection Out-of-Service Criteria in which 20% or more of the vehicle’s, or combination of vehicles’, service brakes had an out-of-service condition.
Other OOS violations included:
- 92 violations for steering axle linings and 119 for other steering axle conditions
- 145 for air loss rate
- 600 for brake hoses/tubes
- 759 other OOS brake violations, including within the tractor protection system, air tanks, parking/emergency/breakaway brake, low-air warning device, and hydraulic brake or electric brake violations among others
Twelve U.S. jurisdictions with performance-based brake testers (PBBT) conducted 657 inspections utilizing the PBBT. Twenty-nine (4.41%) vehicles failed to meet the required 43.5% minimum braking efficiency rate and were placed out of service. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and CVSA’s North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria require a minimum braking efficiency of 43.5%.
Next year’s Brake Safety Week is scheduled earlier than normal, April 18-24, 2027, before even the big Roadcheck event in May.
Wreaths Across America set to roll next month
Known as the country’s longest veterans’ parade, Wreaths Across America’s annual “Escort to Arlington” will begin its journey this year on Saturday, Dec. 12.
The weeklong procession will travel from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., bringing together veterans, military families, volunteers and communities along the East Coast in a shared mission of remembrance.Wreaths Across America
Along the way, the escort will visit schools, veterans’ memorials and community landmarks, creating meaningful opportunities to “Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach the next generation the value of freedom” — the mission of Wreaths Across America.
The official 2026 route and schedule can be viewed here. Stops with public events will be held in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Washington D.C., before arriving at Arlington National Cemetery on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 19 — National Wreaths Across America Day.
The Escort to Arlington has grown to consist of 13 tractor-trailers representing American Trucking Associations’ Workforce Heroes, Cari’s Blessing, Bettaway Beverage Distributors Inc., Bennett Motor Express LLC, Brown Dog Carriers, Brakebush Transportation, Inc., Cargo Transporters Inc., Delhaize Transportation LLC (DBA Hannaford Supermarkets), Bison Transport USA, Merchants Distributors Inc. (MDI), Schneider National, NFI and Witte Bros. Exchange, Inc. Additionally, Load One Carriers will again serve as the ceremonial wreath transporter for the week.
These organizations and their truck drivers will haul a portion of the sponsored veterans’ wreaths designated for placement by thousands of volunteers at Arlington National Cemetery on National Wreaths Across America Day.
The Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit will also be open to the public at many of this year’s events.
Chevrolet has once again provided the 10 wrapped escort vehicles to transport participating Gold Star and Blue Star family members and veterans during the week-long trip. In addition, Chevrolet has sponsored 4,000 veterans’ wreaths for placement by volunteers at Arlington National Cemetery to help remember our nation’s service members.
Wreaths Across America has also announced that its Mobile Education Exhibit (MEE) will continue traveling the country in 2027. The unique museum on wheels will visit local communities to share its year-round mission: Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach the next generation the value of freedom.
The MEE will visit the following states in 2027:
- January — North and South Carolina
- February — Georgia and Florida
- March — Florida
- April — Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi
- May — Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico
- June — Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Kansas
- July — Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois
- September — Ohio and Massachusetts
- October — West Virginia and Virginia
- November — Pennsylvania
- In December, like with this year, the MEE plans to join in on the annual Escort to Arlington.
When the MEE pulls into your area, all veterans, active-duty military, their families, and local community members are invited and encouraged to visit, take a tour, and speak with WAA Ambassadors and volunteers. The public tours for the MEE are free, and visitors are welcome to ask questions, share stories, and experience this one-of-a-kind exhibit.
